Useful career links and contacts
To get the legal career you want, it’s important to start your research as soon as possible. This will help you to:
- make realistic decisions about which areas to concentrate on
- identify what areas of law interest you before it’s time to make applications
- make strong, successful job applications
- maximise your chances of doing well in your
chosen area(s)
Early research
It’s easy to find online information covering the different practice areas for both solicitors and barristers. These sites contain plenty of useful information on working environments, types of clients, and the skills and qualifications required. Once you’ve used these sites to establish some of the basic facts, you can start to home in on areas that appeal most.
The next step is to identify the recruitment opportunities available within your chosen practice area, and check whether your existing academic record and practical skills match what employers are looking for.
Many law firms and some barristers’ chambers recruit their trainees and pupils as much as two years in advance of starting work. This means that you may need to think about making job applications during your second year of undergraduate study (if taking a law degree) or your final year (if taking a non-law degree). Application deadlines are not flexible – if you miss the deadline this year, you may have to wait until the following year to apply again. Some firms may also offer sponsorship for your postgraduate studies.
Websites and publications giving information on the legal profession include:
